A Series of Phenomena

**By the way, a bit of a celebration here... this is my 500th blog post - hip hip hooray!**

During my trip out to West Cork last week, the weather was kind enough (for once) for me to get out and about with my camera. Although this visit was made for a particular assignment, it was the unplanned shots that ended up being the winners for me. However, I must warn you that you may find some of the following images upsetting.

Rainbows, a phenomenon which never cease to please but it is a case of being in the right place at the right time, so when this one suddenly appeared over Dooneen, as I was going out on a tea-time foray at the end of a glorious day, I was fortunate to be set up with my gear.

Rolling a little further down the hill and I came across the next phenomenon - starlings. There is a small murmuration that happens around Bawnishall most evenings between late Autumn and early Spring. Nothing on the scale of the Fen Drayton show I usually go to watch here in the UK but wonderful none the less.

On this particular evening they were just starting to gather on the wires as I sat watching from the rain protected car, their distinctive chatter confirming their presence.

An hour or so later on my return journey along the Glandore road, the next phenomenon caught my eye. The rooks were noisily having their turn at gathering for the night - safety in numbers and all that. In the trees, along the wires - in the fading light it could be viewed as menacing but for me, a fascinating thing to watch. How they all stay put on a swaying wire amazes me and depending on which way they faced, they carefully adjusted their 'trim'. The overall effect was like looking at a bird-barbed wire (and as I was tucked in on a narrow road, I was getting barbed looks from the passing motorists too!)

A phenomenon which can either be interesting or distressing is cetacean stranding. Live strandings, whilst stressful for the creature, with the right care from trained volunteers they can have a successful outcome. Whales, dolphins and porpoises can be successfully returned to the sea.
Unfortunately, sometimes it is too late for a successful rescue, as it was for this common dolphin, which had been thrown over the sea wall by storm waves at Tragumna.

It was clear that this one, a female, had probably died at sea and was subsequently washed up in the carpark. I didn't know how long it had been there but I took the stance that it would be better to report the stranding to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group rather than assume it had already been reported.
In the event, IWDG's Padraig Whooley and Calvin Jones had already been on the case and their reporting of it has been logged.

Whilst this may seem a distasteful action in some eyes, this data is important in determining the health, welfare and habits of the cetacean population around the coast of Ireland

By the time I saw this stranding, the carcass had been at the location for almost a week, with the elements and predation clearly having taken its toll. Happily, by the next day, the carcass had been removed.

However, I couldn't help but be amazed at the zipper-like set of teeth.

Finally this phenomenon is practically something that occurs all the time but these unusual waves on 3rd March off the West Cork coast were seemingly appearing from nowhere in an otherwise calm sea. Such was the enormity of the waves, I was able to observe them breaking right over the top of the Fastnet Lighthouse, some seventeen miles in the distance. We shouldn't underestimate the power of the sea, as we have seen, the recent storms hitting the coast and doing millions in damage. However, it also has the power of cleansing by taking some of the unfortunate strandings back out to sea for nature to continue with recycling - you could say, one last phenomenon.

Heady Lime-Time

Over the past couple of weeks I have been so busy, (just like this fella) that my blog has been devoid of regular posts. Forget the fast-paced Olympic torch relay or my relentless plugging (do apologise!) for a certain 'event' taking place at home this weekend and next, this is a catch-up of some of the simple things in life that are here to be enjoyed too.

One of the pleasures I'm looking forward to now that this 'event' (not going to mention the name) is under way, is getting out for my regular walks with mutt. Sure, I've been out with her but she has had her exercise cut short due to my activities and the locations have not been the most interesting for her. We both love those walks out in our beautiful surrounding countryside where I can enjoy the space, listen to the sounds and observe the progress of nature.

However, a little bit of very local nature has been unavoidable in that time. On my way to almost anywhere in town, I have to walk past a mass of Lime (Tilia) trees. Some may know these trees as Linden but whichever, the fact is the same for both. Late June / early July is flowering time.

The first indication of the arrival of the sticky flowers on the bracts that the lime trees produce, is the almost intoxicating aroma that wafts on the air. However, it is upon arrival under this heady canopy that it is most striking... it buzzes!
Why? The first image explains exactly why.
Bees.
Those that have managed to rid their wings of excess raindrops, have made that bee-line for this seasonal Apidae picnic, just as we have determinedly shaken off our brollies this summer in an attempt to enjoy a barbecue.
The flowers have all but gone over now but there are still some other little critters that are dependent on the lime tree for its life-source.

Red protrusions from the upper surface of the leaves, denote the presence of Eriophytes tiliae or the Lime nail gall mite. Chemicals are produced by these sap-sucking mites, which cause the galls to grow throughout the summer. By Autumn, the mature mite emerges, finding a suitable crack in the bark of the tree where it overwinters, before emerging again in the Spring for the cycle to start all over again.

There is a whole world sustained by this, and indeed, by almost every tree, which so often we walk by without even a thought.

So, take a look, smell and a listen next time you are beneath one of our precious trees- you never know what you might find.

Olympic Torch, Saffron Walden. 7.7.12

If there is just one word that sums up the landmark event of the Olympic Torch Relay passing through Saffron Walden yesterday, then it is WET!

No amount of torrential rain dampened the spirits of the thousands of spectators who lined the route along Newport Road, London Road, down the High Street and ending along Bridge Street.

Spectators began putting their chairs out for prime road-side positions as early as 9am when the weather was looking promising. Even at 11am it was still playing at being a beautiful summer morning but oh how things can change in the space of an hour.

Having dressed for the weather at the time of departure, the crowds were starting to gather along Bridge Street by 11.30, oblivious to what was in store from the heavens.

By midday, the first umbrellas were starting to pop up as the drops of rain marked the beginning of over an hour unremitting rain and just at the time the torch convoy was due to pass through the town.

Rain bounced off the roads around the spectators as they waited for the torch to pass by, although a brief respite did come when umbrellas were wound up hopefully...

...and some celebratory high-fives were forthcoming.

However, it was brief, as it all started again just as the convoy rolled through town.

Somehow though, certain big corporate sponsors appeared a little out of place in the surroundings of this traditional market town.

Then came the cheer as the fourth and last of the Saffron Walden torch bearers came into view - just!
With the whole circus that accompanies the torch bearers, it was near impossible to gain a clear view for photographs until the second they actually passed in front of you.

However, I gave it a good try...

Still raining, but just not quite as hard, or own Clare Thompson did the town proud.

A member of the Walden Tri Club, Saffron Striders, a coach to the Ladies' Running Group (well recognised by the towns dog-walkers who often share the paths in the park with her ladies) and an inspirational runner, who prior to the London Marathon 2012, completed the 'Trolley Trot' - 45 miles to London in 7hrs 58 with 'Holdroyd', a specially adapted supermarket trolley that she wore all the way.

"No wind was really important, as Holroyd swings badly like a sail. Again the crowds were fantastic even though I had to correct someone that called out 'go on Sainsburys' to excuse me but I’m Waitrose!"

Going on to complete the marathon in 5hrs 04 raising money for The Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre, a charity with personal connections as her sister had been diagnosed with the condition.

Clare fully deserved her selection as torch bearer for Saffron Walden although she didn't make it onto the local evening TV news despite the array of photographers and camera crews who complete the torch route in reverse.

As Clare extinguished her torch and climbed aboard the Olympic Torch Relay Bus, the rain eased and the sun reappeared above the drenched spectators milling through the town streets on their way home to dry out and reflect on the fleeting and historical moment of the Olympic Torch passing through Saffron Walden

"Fantastic photos again. Thank you kindly."

Uttlesford District Council

(via Twitter)

"Lovely photos on your blog of the torch going though town :)"

HW

(via Twitter)

 "Great photos but what weather you had."

RE

(via Twitter)

"Fantastic photographs......really captured the spirit of the event...and the rain!"

S

(via Twitter)